About this title: Perhaps the most celebrated of all Western narratives, the Odyssey tells the story of Odysseus's roundabout voyage home to Ithaca where his beloved Penelope awaits. In stories along the way, he famously encounters Circe, the Sirens, the Cyclops, and many, many others. This translation renders the classic more economically than others.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: HARPERPERENNIAL
Date Published: 1975
ISBN-13:9780060904791ISBN:0060904798
Description: Published by HarperPerennial in 1975. Paperback. Number of pages: 384. Condition: Good. Used book but in Good Condition for sensible price. Corners bumped. Spine creased. Shipped from UK. Delivery is usually 2-3 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Harper & Row
Date Published: 1967
Description: Good. 1967 softcover, book is tight, pages tanned, covers show shelfwear to edges, writing on FEP, name on 2nd EP, no other markings. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, US
Date Published: 1967
ISBN-13:9780060125318ISBN:0060125314
Description: Good in very good dust jacket. Ex-library. Shipping upgrade! ! Order processed within minutes of your purchase! In business since 1975. Text in English, Greek, Ancient (to 1453). Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: Harper Colophon Books, New York
Date Published: 1975
Description: Good. 374 pp. spine crease, edge wear, light pencil underlining in places; This is Homer's epic chronicle of the Greek hero Odysseus' triumph over Troy and arduous journey home: Odysseus survives a storm and shipwreck, the cave of the Cyclops and the isle of Circe, the lure of the Sirens' song and a trip to the Underworld, only to find his most difficult challenge at home, where treacherous suitors seek to steal his kingdom and his loyal wife, Penelope. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date Published: 1967
ISBN-13:9780060904791ISBN:0060904798
Description: Fair. No dust jacket as issued. Text in English, Greek, Ancient (to 1453). Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: HarperCollins, New York
Date Published: 1982
ISBN-13:9780060904791ISBN:0060904798
Description: Fair. No Jacket as Issued. Wear and creasing to the covers with old textbook stickers. Back cover has some discoloration. Mild page toning. A few marginal brackets, but otherwise clean. Would make a good reading copy. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Harpercollins
Date Published: 1991
ISBN-13:9780060904791ISBN:0060904798
Description: A good reading copy only. Previous owners name inscribed inside front. Book has tanning or browning due to normal aging process. -, Trade PaperBack, Good / read more
Description: Good. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Acceptable. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more
Description: Good. Book shows minor use. Cover and Binding have minimal wear and the pages have only minimal creases. A tradition of southern quality and service. All books guaranteed at the Atlanta Book Company. read more
"Just read it for English 1 over the summer, and overall it was a good book. It was a little too long for me, but it was full of information on Greek mythology."
"The Odyssey is, well, the Odyssey. Beyond being a tremendously exciting read, it is a foundational work in Western literature.
It is a glorious story of love and war, gods and humans, adventure in and around the Mediterranean (and, some argue, out to the West Indies). On the surface simply the story of Odysseus's adventures after the fall of Troy, it is a rich tapestry of places, characters, and creatures which have entered into the basic language of Western literature.
For academic study of the Odyssey, Lattimore's translation is the preferred text, in part because it remains closest to the Greek text. And Lattimore's is a fine translation. But I find Fitzgerald's translation more alive, more exciting, more compelling. It is modern without being overly glib, a fault I find Fagles and Lombardo sometimes falling into.
For serious teaching and study, I stick with Lattimore. But for reading pleasure -- I have read the Odyssey perhaps a dozen times in at least a half-dozen translations, and still find it has riches I never previously noticed -- I turn by preference to Fitzgerald.
If you haven't read this Odyssey, do so. Definitely do so. What else can I say?"
"This is a marvelous poem. Everyone knows that. It has survived centuries - milennia. Now, thanks to Robert Fagles's brilliant and vivid translation, no reader should ever feel overwhelmed or literarily (word?) excluded by the Odyssey. While reading it, I learned that a) Greek men weep constantly, b) Greek hospitality is awesome and one receives many presents, c) Odysseus and Penelope's son Telemachus is pretty constantly an ass to his mother.
As the story winds down and Odysseus returns to Penelope, revenges himself upon her suitors, and reveals himself, Penelope surprises us by not embracing him as he expects, but is cold, reserved and unconvinced. When Odysseus reminds her of their unusual bed, Penelope is finally convinced that he is her husband. This bed is a rooted tree that grew through the floor of their room, Odysseus having hewed it into a bed for their marriage. This tree, the living cradle of an enduring and much tested love, is one of the most beautiful metaphors of marriage I have ever encountered through literature."
"I really shouldn't like The Odyssey. Sure, it's a classic, and sure, it's one of the earliest works of Western literature (to the extent of my admittedly flimsy knowledge). Homer tells instead of shows, he repeats phrases and in one case, an entire part of the story (the repetition is understandable, given its history). However, the brilliance of the writing and the story surmount all of its problems.
The translation is probably what helped me through. I've read the reviews for a few of the other versions of The Odyssey, and apparently the translations, footnotes and the author's theories drove people mad. However, this version of The Odyssey is translated perfectly, making it easy to read. The authors footnotes and Introduction give as much information as needed, and are helpful to any reader. Judging by other reviews, this is the version that I recommend to anyone who enjoys reading.
The story itself, of course, is brilliant. It is a true epic, and the non-linear narration only serves to enhance the experience. Thinking back, the way Homer has told the story is genius indeed, as it lends greater emotional impact and keeps relevant events fresh in the readers mind. Odysseus' journey to his homeland of Ithaca after twenty years at war and sea is a fascinating one, the sort I wish people still thought of. I'm not a big fan of fantasy tales, with monsters such as Scylla and Charybodis lurking among the pages, but The Odyssey caught and held my attention. Despite how long ago it was written, it has an innovative and interesting non-linear format.
That's all I'll say about The Odyssey, as I'm afraid that I could ramble for hours. Lately, I'm finding that the books with flaws are the ones that are the most endearing to me. Despite its minor flaws, The Odyssey will probably remain one of my favourite books for a long time. It was a worthy book to begin 2009."
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